Gemotions

The spreadsheet glared up at her from the screen. A cold sweat prickled across her forehead. The numbers swam, but the truth remained starkly visible. Liam, fresh out of college, was making more than she, a ten-year veteran, was. The knot in her stomach tightened.

She found herself avoiding the break room, where Liam often held court, regaling everyone with tales of his weekend. His youthful exuberance, once charming, now grated on her nerves. She skipped lunch, too, opting to eat at her desk, her gaze fixed on her monitor, even when there was nothing to do.

Her smile felt brittle, strained when Liam asked her for help with a project. “Sure, Liam,” she managed, her voice tight. The words felt hollow, a poor imitation of her usual professional warmth. That night, she replayed the conversation in her head, cringing at her forced affability.